India News | Cleric Arrested from Belagavi for

Hubballi (KTK), Apr 21 (PTI) A cleric was arrested on Thursday in connection with the violence reported in the city recently over an alleged social media post hurting the sentiments of a community.

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Waseem Pathan was picked up from Belagavi, where he was hiding, on Wednesday and brought here this morning, Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner Labhu Ram told reporters.

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Prohibitory orders are in place in five police stations under section 144 of the CrPC and would remain in effect in five police stations till Saturday, he said.

Ram said police personnel from neighbouring districts were brought to Hubballi.

"The situation is normal and peaceful. So far, 126 people have been arrested while our teams have gone to various places to arrest the remaining accused," the Police Commissioner said.

Video footage purportedly showed Pathan standing on a police official's jeep and addressing a crowd of people gathered outside the old Hubballi police station to protest against the alleged post showing a saffron flag on a mosque that surfaced in the social media on Saturday night.

After the speech, the mob went on the rampage damaging many police vehicles, and hurled stones at a nearby hospital and temple. After the police named him in the FIR, the cleric went into hiding and released a video on social media, claiming he was innocent.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)